Brooklyn: Probation for Fake Veterinarian

A man charged with operating on animals without a license was sentenced yesterday in State Supreme Court to probation and mandatory psychiatric treatment. The man, Steven Vassall, 29, was accused of botching surgery on a Boston terrier. His case drew worldwide publicity for the involvement of a so-called undercover cat named Fred, used in a sting operation by the district attorney’s office. Mr. Vassall was sentenced after pleading guilty to scheming to defraud and to the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine. Under the terms of a plea bargain, he must attend an outpatient mental health program five days a week and refrain from involvement in nursing or animal care.

A version of this brief appears in print on , on Page B6 of the New York edition with the headline: Brooklyn: Probation For Fake Veterinarian. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe